The Henson Journals

[29]

3rd Sunday after Easter, April 29th, 1917.

1000th day

The night was tempestuous. I noticed that one of the six rook's nests had disappeared: but the temperature continues high. Altogether very comfortless weather, bad for mind & body. I celebrated at 8 a.m. All the college were present except Knowling and May. George was there. He is very steady in his weekly communion, and it is altogether a self–imposed rule, save perhaps that he divines that it pleases me to see him at the Communion rail. Most acceptable to the Almighty must be the prayers of the young. There were about 300 soldiers at the Church Parade. I preached on Eph. V. 15, 16, and the men were fairly attentive, but they are very crude & rough as yet. Knowling preached at Mattins, a good sermon but less good than it might have been by reason of some rather superfluous denunciations of Germany and eulogies of America. I cannot think it edifies our people thus to echo, sanction, & in a measure consecrate their prejudices & resentments.

After lunch (at which Colonel Herne & Captain Slade were present by way of saying Goodbye before leaving Durham) Ella & I motored to Sacristan where I assisted at the unveiling of a tablet to Lieut: Brass and preached. After the function we had tea with Colonel & Mrs Blackett, & so home.

[30] [symbol]

The Rev. Edward S. Kiek, Minister of Square Church, Halifax, wrote to me asking that I shd undertake to preach in his church wh. he describes "as one of the most famous of Congregational Churches at any rate in the North of England". I replied thus:–

April 29th 1917

Dear Sir,

I am greatly obliged to you for your letter, & for the kindly–expressed invitation to preach in your church. In the present circumstances of the nation I am very unwilling to bind myself by promises wh. I might find it inconvenient to fulfil when the dies fatalis shd have actually arrived. It is sufficiently well–known that I desire what is called an "exchange of pulpits" between the Christian Churches as a step towards a better mutual understanding: and I am myself very willing to accept invitations to preach in Non–Anglican Churches, provided that I have reasonable ground for believing that my doing so will promote religious harmony, and not have the untoward result of occasioning local friction. Halifax is to me terra incognita: &, therefore I am wholly dependent upon the assurances of others for my knowledge of its ecclesiastical conditions. It is indeed lamentable that it shd be necessary to advance with such vigilant timidity along the path of evident Christian obligation, but S. Paul's counsel, "Let not your good be evil spoken of", can never prudently be ignored. It may interest you to read the enclosed, which you will please observe is marked "Private".

With all good wishes, I am, Yours very faithfully

H. Hensley Henson

I enclosed with this letter a copy of my correspondence with the Bishop of London. I wrote to Buckle, Ridley, Robertson, and Harold Anson thanking them for their willingness to assist me in preparing a memoir of the Warden. Unfortunately their power to provide materials does not appear to be considerable: & it is lack of materials which is the real problem.

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